June 29, 2013

Millard was
the first draft choice of the Vikings in 1984 but spent his rookie season with
the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL. He joined Minnesota in 1985 and recorded 11
sacks that year and had another 10.5 in ’86. He became the key figure in the
middle of Minnesota’s talented defensive line and was a consensus first-team
All-NFL and Pro Bowl selection in 1988.

1989 Season Summary

Appeared in all
16 games

(Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20)

Sacks – 18 [3]

Most sacks,
game – 4 vs. Green Bay 10/15

Multi-sack
games (2 or more) – 5

Interceptions
– 1

Int. yards – 48

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble
recoveries – 1

Fumble rec.
TD – 1

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Divisional playoff at San
Francisco)

Sacks – 0

Interceptions
– 0

TD – 0

Awards &
Honors:

NFL Defensive
Player of the Year: AP

1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

1st
team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Vikings went 10-6
to finish first in the NFC Central while allowing the fewest yards in the NFL
on defense overall (4184) and in passing defense (2501 yards) as well as
leading the league in sacks (71). Lost NFC Divisional playoff to San Francisco
49ers (41-13).

Aftermath:

Millard’s
1990 season ended when he suffered a significant knee injury in the fourth game
and the resulting two surgeries cost him all of ’91 as well. The Vikings dealt
him to Seattle for 1992, but he played in just two games and moved on to the
Packers. Millard finished up with the Eagles in 1993. Playing in eight seasons
in the NFL, he accumulated 58 sacks (53 of them with the Vikings). At his best,
he was an explosive pass rusher from the middle of the defensive line, but his
promising career was cut short by injury.

--

MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or
Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or
USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football
Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press
International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league
itself). Also includes Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Players of
the Year.

June 27, 2013

A workhorse
running back in his last two college seasons, Thomas was taken by the Bears in
the second round of the 2001 NFL draft. He was projected to be an immediate
contributor, valued for his blocking as well as reliability, and while he
missed time in the preseason and didn’t immediately move into the lineup, he
replaced James Allen as the primary runner.

2001 Season Summary

Appeared in 14
of 16 games

[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 278
[12]

Most
attempts, game - 33 (for 160 yds.) vs. Jacksonville 1/6

Yards – 1183 [11]

Most yards,
game – 188 yards (on 22 carries) at Cincinnati 10/21

Average gain
– 4.3

TDs – 7 [12,
tied with Ron Dayne & Tony Richardson]

100-yard
rushing games – 4

Pass
Receiving

Receptions – 22

Most
receptions, game – 6 (for 71 yds.) vs. Cleveland 11/4

Yards – 178

Most yards,
game - 71 (on 6 catches) vs. Cleveland 11/4

Average gain
– 8.1

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 7

2-point PAT –
1

Points – 44

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Divisional playoff vs. Philadelphia)

Rushing
attempts – 15

Rushing yards
– 36

Average gain
rushing – 2.4

Rushing TDs –
0

Pass
receptions – 1

Pass
receiving yards - 11

Average yards
per reception – 11.0

Pass
Receiving TDs - 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Offensive
Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

Bears went 13-3
to finish first in the NFC Central. Lost NFC Divisional playoff to Philadelphia
Eagles (33-19).

Aftermath:

“The A-Train”
slumped in 2002, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry before a broken finger
sidelined him for the last four games. He recovered somewhat to rush for 1024
yards in ‘03, but was still bothered by nagging injuries and lost his starting
job to Thomas Jones in 2004. After running for 3332 yards in four years in
Chicago, Thomas moved on to the Dallas Cowboys in 2005, saw little action and
was released - he finished up the season in New Orleans when RB Deuce
McAllister was lost with an injury. He spent 2006 and ’07, his final two
seasons, with Buffalo. Overall, he rushed for 3891 yards on 1044 carries (3.7
avg.) with 23 touchdowns and caught 113 passes for 756 yards and a TD. At his
best, Thomas was effective as a runner between the tackles, but injuries and
inconsistent play ultimately limited his career.

--

Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized
organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise
Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league
itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).

June 25, 2013

The Oakland Invaders had a mediocre 8-8 record with two
contests to go in the inaugural United States Football League season, but that
was enough to put them in control of their own destiny in the weak Pacific
Division. On June 25, 1983 they hosted the Boston Breakers, who were 10-6 and
trying to secure the lone Wild Card playoff spot.

The Invaders, coached by John Ralston, had uncovered a
hidden talent in 29-year-old QB Fred Besana, a former semi-pro player who was
proving to be one of the USFL’s most productive passers. Two former members of
the NFL Raiders, TE Raymond Chester and RB Arthur Whittington, were better
known to Bay Area football fans and key players on the offense, although
Whittington was out with an injury for the Breakers game. The inconsistent
defense had a good group of linebackers, most notably Frank Manumaleuga and
Gary Plummer on the inside as they utilized a 3-4 alignment.

Head Coach Dick Coury’s Breakers boasted a well-balanced
offense directed by QB John Walton, a veteran of the Continental and World
Football Leagues as well as the NFL who had come out of retirement to play in
the USFL. With a fine group of receivers plus ex-Canadian Football League RB
Richard Crump, Boston could typically move the ball. Like the Invaders, the
best part of the defense was the linebacking corps that was led by rookie
Marcus Marek, but stopping the pass was a chronic problem.

There was a crowd of 30,396 on hand at the
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for the Saturday contest. They saw the home
team take the early lead when Besana, rolling to his right, just got off a pass
before going out of bounds that was caught in the end zone by HB Louis Jackson
for a touchdown. Kevin Shea’s successful extra point made it 7-0, and that was
the score after a period of play.

Boston got on the board in the second quarter thanks to a
35-yard Tim Mazzetti field goal. Oakland again moved into scoring position but
a field goal attempt was blocked and returned 75 yards for a touchdown by LB
Ben Needham. Instead of extending their lead, the Invaders were behind by 10-7.
Before the half was over, Shea got another shot at a field goal and was
successful from 22 yards out to tie the game at 10-10 at the half.

Mistakes by the Breakers in the third quarter put Oakland
back in front. A fumble was recovered at the Oakland 48 and, with the help of
three penalties, the Invaders moved to the Boston three. On the first play of
the fourth quarter, FB Ted Torosian powered into the end zone for a touchdown
and, with the successful extra point, Oakland took a 17-13 lead.

The Breakers again hurt themselves when an apparent
touchdown was called back due to a penalty. Mazzetti was able to add a 24-yard
field goal but the Oakland defense held the rest of the way and the Invaders
won the game, and the division title, by the slender margin of 17-16.

Oakland outgained the Breakers (322 yards to 282), had
more first downs (18 to 9), and significantly dominated time of possession
(39:21 to 20:39). The Invaders also recorded five sacks, for a total loss of 31
yards, while Boston got to Besana twice. The Breakers turned the ball over
three times, to one suffered by Oakland, and while the Invaders were penalized
11 times, Boston was flagged on 12 occasions, often in key situations, at a
total cost of 115 yards.

Fred Besana had a solid, if unspectacular, performance as
he completed 25 of 36 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown with no
interceptions. In place of Arthur Whittington, Louis Jackson rushed for 90
yards on 23 carries and caught 8 passes for 110 yards and a TD. Ted Torosian
pulled in 10 receptions for 63 yards in addition to his 8 rushes for 16 yards
and a score as most of Besana’s completions went to backs. Raymond Chester
added 4 catches for 45 yards and only two completions were made to a wide
receiver.

For the Breakers, John Walton was successful on only 7 of
20 throws for 109 yards with no TDs and one picked off while Doug Woodward went
two-for-six and 28 yards with another interception. Richard Crump gained 122
yards on just 13 rushing attempts. WR Nolan Franz caught three passes for 36
yards while WR Charlie Smith gained 55 yards on his two receptions.

The Invaders lost their season finale and ended up at
9-9. They were defeated decisively by the Michigan Panthers in the Semifinal
playoff game. Boston finished second in the Atlantic Division at 11-7 and out
of the postseason.

Fred Besana led the USFL in passing yards (3980) and
completion percentage (62.7) while ranking second in passing overall. He tossed
21 TD passes as opposed to 16 interceptions.
In a backup role, Louis Jackson rushed for 273 yards on 82 carries (3.3
avg.) and caught 29 passes for 294 yards – his touchdown against Boston was his
only one of the year.

June 23, 2013

Chosen by
both the NFL Cardinals and AFL Jets in the first round of the respective 1965
drafts, Namath signed a then-huge $427,000 contract with New York. A college
star under Head Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant at Alabama, he had torn ligaments in
his right knee during his senior year that required surgery. Knee and mobility
issues would thus be significant throughout Namath’s career, but he took over
as the starting quarterback for the Jets early in his rookie season and didn’t
miss a game to injury (he wouldn’t in his first five seasons) while gaining
selection to the AFL All-Star game. Charismatic (he quickly became a celebrity
off the field) and a good leader, he also had a quick release and strong arm.
Namath led the league in pass attempts and completions, yards, and TD passes in
1966 and ’67 – in the latter season, he became the first 4000-yard passer in
NFL/AFL history (4007). Prone to trying to force passes into coverage, however,
he also led the AFL in passes intercepted in both years. In 1968, the Jets won
the AFL Championship and an upset win in the Super Bowl – Namath was AFL Player
of the Year for his season performance and MVP of the Super Bowl.

A broken
wrist sidelined Namath five games into the ’70 season, the first of a series of
injuries that dogged the remainder of his career. After appearing in just nine
games in 1970 and ’71, he came back in 1972 to lead the NFL in passing yards
(2816), TD passes (19), and yards per attempt (8.7) and was named to the Pro
Bowl. However, a separated shoulder limited him to six games in 1973 and, with
the team deteriorating around him, he had only sporadic success while leading
the league in interceptions in 1974 and ’75. Namath finished his career with
the Rams in 1977 and ended up throwing for 27,663 yards with 173 TDs and 220
interceptions. His #12 was retired by the Jets and he was inducted into the Pro
Football Hall of Fame, class of 1985.

--

MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or
Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL
(1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers
Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The
Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself).

June 21, 2013

A star
defensive end in college, registering 24 sacks in 2002, Suggs entered the NFL
draft following his junior year and was chosen by the Ravens in the first round
(10th overall) in anticipation of converting him into a pass rushing
outside linebacker.

Ravens went 10-6
to finish first in the AFC North while leading the NFL in sacks (47). Lost AFC
Wild Card playoff to Tennessee Titans (20-17).

Aftermath:

Suggs had 10
sacks and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2004, but with a change in the
defensive scheme was shifted to end in ’05. He received Pro Bowl recognition again
in 2006 as he garnered 9.5 sacks as a hybrid DE/OLB. Always a fine pass rusher,
he showed improvement in coverage and against the run. Following an off-year in
2007 in which he again was returned to outside linebacker, he regained Pro Bowl
form in ’08. A knee injury hindered Suggs in 2009 but he came back with an
11-sack Pro Bowl season in 2010 and was All-NFL and the NFL Defensive Player of
the Year in 2011. However, an offseason Achilles injury sidelined him for the
first six games of the 2012 season, although he returned for the second half of
the year and the playoff run to the Super Bowl, if at reduced effectiveness. For
the first 10 years of his career, Suggs accumulated 84.5 sacks and seven
interceptions and was selected to the Pro Bowl five times.

--

Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by
a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper
Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the
league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).

June 19, 2013

The first
overall pick by the Bills in the 1985 NFL draft, Smith started off slowly as a
rookie with a poor team but broke out with 15 sacks in 1986 and earned both
consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors for the first time in ’87.
Strong against both the run and pass, he benefited from the arrival of LB
Cornelius Bennett and other defensive stars. Smith was again a first-team
All-NFL choice in 1988 and a Pro Bowl selection in ’88 and ’90. In his first
five seasons, he accumulated a total of 57.5 sacks.

1990 Season Summary

Appeared in all
16 games

[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 19 [2]

Most sacks,
game – 4 at Indianapolis 12/9

Multi-sack
games (2 or more) – 7

Interceptions
– 0

Fumble
recoveries – 0

Forced fumbles
– 4

Tackles – 101

Postseason: 3 G

Sacks – 1

Interceptions
– 0

Safeties – 1

TD – 0

Awards &
Honors:

NFL Defensive
Player of the Year: AP

1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

1st
team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Bills went 13-3
to finish first in the AFC East and gain the top playoff seed in the
conference. Won AFC Divisional playoff over Miami Dolphins (44-34) and AFC
Championship over Los Angeles Raiders (51-3). Lost Super Bowl to New York
Giants (20-19).

Aftermath:

A knee injury
limited Smith to just five games in 1991, but he bounced back in ’92 to record
14 sacks and return to the Pro Bowl for the first of seven consecutive seasons.
He was also a consensus first-team All-NFL selection for five straight years
from 1993 to ’97 and again received NFL Defensive Player of the Year
recognition in 1996. After 15 years with Buffalo, Smith moved on to the
Washington Redskins in 2000 and had his last double-digit sack season, with 10.
He hung on until 2003, finishing up as the NFL’s all-time leader in sacks with 200.
A great all-around defensive end with tremendous savvy as well as speed and
strength, Smith played in a total of 279 games, was a consensus first-team
All-NFL selection eight times and a Pro Bowl choice 11 times. He was inducted
into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2009.

--

MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or
Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or
USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football
Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International,
The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). Also
includes Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.

June 17, 2013

In the inaugural United States Football League season,
the Denver Gold were hardly known for explosive offense. They turned the ball
over with great frequency and were at the bottom of the USFL in offensive
production. Denver had also experienced the first head coaching change of any
team in the new league when Red Miller, formerly of the NFL Broncos, gave way
to Craig Morton, an ex-Broncos quarterback. But on June 17, 1983 the Gold
exploded against the Arizona Wranglers to not only post their highest point
total of the year but also the most yards of total offense by any USFL club in
the first season.

To be sure, the Wranglers had their own problems. After
getting off to a 4-4 start, Head Coach Doug Shively’s team had lost seven
straight. Arizona also had difficulty putting points on the board. While rookie
QB Alan Risher showed promise, the club simply couldn’t remain competitive - even
in the weak Pacific Division, where the 6-9 Gold were still mathematically in
the hunt for the division title.

The one thing the Gold could do better than any other
USFL team was draw fans, and there were 42,621 on hand for the Friday night
game at Mile High Stadium, which was also the last home game of the year. The
Gold wasted no time, getting on the board less than four minutes into the first
quarter by driving 91 yards in six plays that culminated in a 75-yard touchdown
pass from QB Craig Penrose (pictured above) to WR John Dirden.

The Wranglers responded with a 76-yard drive into scoring
territory, but on a fourth-and-two play TE Phil Denfield fumbled the pitchout
from Alan Risher and CB David Dumars recovered at the Denver 17. It was
Arizona’s only threat of the first half.

Meanwhile, Denver put together an 82-yard drive in less
than two minutes as RB Vincent White had runs of 29, 25, and 11 yards and backup
QB Fred Mortensen threw to TE Bob Niziolek for a 12-yard TD. On the extra point
attempt, the Gold lined up for a kick but instead the snap went to RB Bo
Matthews, who powered into the end zone for two points. The score remained 15-0
at the half.

The Gold took the second half kickoff and drove 80 yards
with Penrose completing a five-yard scoring pass to TE Darryl Goosby. Denver,
pulling out all of its tricks, added to the lead later in the third quarter with
the benefit of a flea-flicker pass from Penrose to WR Richard Matheney that
gained 26 yards. It set up a 33-yard Brian Speelman field goal to make the
score 25-0.

The Wranglers finally got on the board in the fourth
quarter when SS Aaron Mitchell intercepted a Penrose pass and returned it 66
yards to the Denver 11. QB Dan Manucci threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to TE
Mark Keel but the try for two points was unsuccessful. The Gold came back to
score one more TD, on a Penrose pass to WR Victor James that covered seven
yards, and with the successful Speelman point after finished up with a 32-6
win.

Denver rolled up an impressive 509 yards, to just 167 for
the Wranglers. The attack was well balanced as the Gold gained 256 yards on the
ground and 253 through the air. They also accumulated 22 first downs to
Arizona’s 9 and dominated time of possession (35:22 to 24:38). However, Denver
was also penalized 15 times, to 9 flags thrown on the visitors. There were
remarkably few turnovers, with each club suffering one apiece.

Craig Penrose, a former teammate of Morton’s with the
Broncos who joined the club after he became head coach, completed 12 of 21
passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Vincent White (pictured below) had
a big day as he rushed for 159 yards on 20 carries. Victor James caught four
passes for 60 yards while Bob Niziolek gained 93 yards on three receptions.
John Dirden’s 75-yard scoring catch was his only one of the game.

For the Wranglers, Alan Risher was successful on just 10
of 25 throws for 105 yards and replacement Dan Manucci went 5-for-14 and 52
yards with one TD. Mark Keel caught 4 passes for 57 yards and a TD to pace the
club. The running game that produced just 25 yards overall on 18 attempts was
led by RB Darryl Clark’s 10 yards on 6 carries.

The Gold returned to their losing ways, finished the
season at 7-11 and third in the Pacific Division. Arizona did likewise, ending
up at the bottom of the division with a 4-14 record.

Vincent White, like Penrose a late addition to the team,
had by far his most productive game against the Wranglers. For the year, he
ended up rushing for 291 yards on 52 carries for an impressive 5.6-yard average
gain. He would see far more action in 1984.

June 15, 2013

Both the Tampa Bay Bandits and Birmingham Stallions were
attempting to secure spots in the postseason as they met in a United States
Football League game on June 15, 1985. Birmingham came into the contest at 12-4,
having won five straight and with a turnover differential of +16, the best in
the league. Head Coach Rollie Dotsch’s team had a well-balanced offense with QB
Cliff Stoudt, WR Jim Smith, and RB Joe Cribbs as the featured performers as
well as a fine defense.

Tampa Bay, meanwhile, was 9-7 and in the midst of a
four-game losing streak. Coached by Steve Spurrier, the Bandits were typically
explosive on offense with veteran QB John Reaves behind center and also had a talented
all-purpose running back in Gary Anderson (pictured above). But there had been numerous
injuries, which were at the root of the club’s recent problems.

There were approximately 24,000 fans in attendance at
Tampa Stadium. The Stallions drove 92 yards in 11 plays the first time they had
the ball to take the early lead. Cliff Stoudt got off to a good start,
completing six of his seven passes for 71 yards, including a three-yard scoring
toss to Jim Smith. Birmingham’s series was also helped along by a personal foul
penalty on LB Tony Office.

But while up by 7-0, the Stallions were unable to build
upon their lead in the second quarter, thanks to a missed field goal attempt by
Danny Miller and an interception by Tampa Bay safety Dwayne Anderson. Instead,
Tampa Bay completed a seven-play, 50-yard drive with 35 seconds left in the
half as John Reaves threw to WR Spencer Jackson for a five-yard TD. Zenon
Andrusyshyn tied the game with his successful extra point and it was 7-7 at the
half.

The third quarter proved to be decisive for the home
team. First, Andrusyshyn kicked a 34-yard field goal that put the Bandits in
front. Then, with just over a minute left in the period Gary Anderson ran for
an 11-yard touchdown and, with the successful PAT, extended Tampa Bay’s lead to
17-7. Meanwhile, the defense did its part by intercepting three of Stoudt’s
passes during the quarter, causing Coach Dotsch to bench him in favor of backup
QB Bob Lane.

Tampa Bay’s lead held up through the fourth quarter. In
the last minute, Lane tossed a seven-yard scoring pass to Smith, but it was
too-little, too-late as the Bandits came away with a 17-14 win.

Birmingham gained more yards (416 to 253) and had the
edge in first downs (24 to 17) and time of possession (37:13 to 22:47).
However, the Stallions turned the ball over five times, most critically in the
crucial third quarter, to four by the Bandits and Danny Miller missed both of
his field goal attempts, from 38 and 40 yards. Both clubs were heavily
penalized, with Tampa Bay drawing 12 flags at a cost of 48 yards while the
Stallions had fewer penalties with 9 but at a loss of 57 yards.

Gary Anderson rushed for 98 yards on 19 carries that
included a touchdown and gained 16 more yards on three catches. John Reaves had
a mediocre performance by his standards, completing just 13 of 30 passes for
112 yards and a TD but with three interceptions. WR Willie Gillespie, like
Anderson, caught three passes and gained a team-high 40 yards.

“I think this is the first time in three years we beat a
good team and we didn’t play well on offense,” said Steve Spurrier in summing
up his team’s win.

For the Stallions, Cliff Stoudt was successful on 16 of
27 throws for 187 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted four times before
being removed. Tellingly, he also led the team in rushing with 29 yards on four
carries while Joe Cribbs was held to 28 yards on his 12 attempts. Bob Lane, who
ran for 20 yards on three carries, completed 10 of his 17 passes for 130 yards
and a TD with one picked off. Jim Smith had 11 pass receptions for 139 yards
and two TDs while WR Ken Toler contributed 5 catches for 90 yards.

The much-needed victory secured a playoff spot for the
Bandits, who finished fifth in the Eastern Conference at 10-8. They lost in the
Quarterfinal round to the Oakland Invaders. Birmingham recovered to top the
conference at 13-5. The Stallions won their Quarterfinal game over the
high-powered Houston Gamblers but lost to the eventual league champs, the
Baltimore Stars, in the Semifinal round (they had fallen to the
then-Philadelphia Stars at a similar juncture in 1984).

John Reaves was highly productive, as he was throughout
his USFL career, passing for 4193 yards and 25 touchdowns, but he also tossed
29 interceptions. Gary Anderson made the Top 10 in both rushing and pass
receiving, gaining 1207 yards and scoring 16 TDs on the ground and catching 72
passes for 678 yards and four more scores through the air.

Cliff Stoudt was the league’s second-ranked passer,
throwing for 3358 yards and 34 touchdowns with 19 interceptions. Jim Smith
ranked third in pass receiving with 87 catches for 1322 yards and 20
touchdowns.

June 14, 2013

Originally
recruited by Yale to play quarterback, Hill was briefly shifted to linebacker
and then halfback. He received first-team All-Ivy League honors as a junior and
senior as Yale won conference titles in each season. Hill was chosen by the
Cowboys in the first round of the 1969 NFL draft (24th overall).

Cowboys went 11-2-1
to finish first in the Capitol Division of the NFL Eastern Conference while
leading the league in total yards (5122) and rushing yards (2276). Lost Eastern
Conference Championship to Cleveland Browns (38-14).

Aftermath:

Injuries
limited Hill to 577 and 468 yards, respectively, in 1970 and ’71 and Duane
Thomas emerged as an alternative, but in 1972 he became the first Dallas
running back to gain a thousand yards rushing in a season (1036) while also
catching 43 passes for 364 more yards and, in ’73, he gained a career-high 1142
yards on the ground. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for three straight seasons,
including 1974, when he ran for 844 yards, but left the Cowboys for The Hawaiians
of the WFL in ’75. Hill played in three WFL games before being sidelined by a
knee injury, and with the demise of the league returned to the NFL with the
Washington Redskins for 1976. As a backup for two years in Washington, he ran
for 558 yards and caught 25 passes before moving on to the Cleveland Browns in
1978. Used primarily for his pass receiving skills out of the backfield in his
four years with Cleveland, Hill ran the ball for just 516 yards but had 107
receptions for 1248 yards and 16 TDs. For his career in the NFL, he rushed for
6083 yards on 1452 carries (4.2 avg.) and 42 touchdowns, caught 271 passes for
2861 yards (10.6 avg.) and another 23 TDs, and was named to the Pro Bowl four
times. His brief hiatus in the WFL added another 218 rushing yards and four
catches.

--

Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized
organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise
Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league
itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).

June 12, 2013

A
multi-talented player in college, Griese was taken by the Dolphins in the first
round of the 1967 AFL/NFL draft. When starting QB John Stofa was lost to a
broken ankle, Griese took over and had a solid rookie season as he threw for
2005 yards and 15 TD passes for a second-year franchise. He earned selection to
the AFL All-Star game in 1967 and ’68, but suffered along with a struggling
team until Don Shula took over as head coach in 1970. The Dolphins went 10-4
and made it to the playoffs and the quarterback was selected for the Pro Bowl
in the newly-merged league. In 1971, the Dolphins won the AFC title and Griese
was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection. He didn’t have the strongest arm,
but it was accurate and he proved to be a good fit in Shula’s ball-control
offense. Griese suffered a broken leg five games into the 1972 season but
returned in the playoffs as the team went undefeated and won the Super Bowl.
They won again in ’73 and he was again selected to the Pro Bowl even though the
offense ran the ball more than it passed. Injuries factored into a couple of
lesser seasons in 1975 and ’76, with personnel factors also an issue, but
fitted with glasses, he came back strong in 1977.

Griese was
selected to a sixth Pro Bowl in ’78 while leading the league in completion
percentage (63.0) but injuries began to wear him down and ultimately ended his
career in 1980. He ended up passing for 25,092 yards with 192 TD passes and the
team went 92-56-3 with him behind center. The Dolphins retired Griese’s #12 and
he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1990. His son
Brian followed him into the NFL.

--

MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or
Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or
USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football
Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press
International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league
itself).

June 10, 2013

Al “Bubba”
Baker was moved from the offensive line to defensive end in college, and
quickly displayed his pass rushing prowess. He was taken in the second round of
the 1978 NFL draft by the Lions and moved into the starting lineup.

1978 Season Summary

Appeared in
all 16 games

[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 23
(unofficial)

Most sacks,
game – 5 vs. Tampa Bay 11/12 (unofficial)

Interceptions
– 0

Fumble
recoveries – 1

Forced fumbles
– 0

Awards &
Honors:

NFL Defensive
Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

NFC Rookie of
the Year: UPI, Sporting News

1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly

1st
team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly

2nd
team All-NFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Lions went 7-9
to finish third in the NFC Central while placing second in the NFL in sacks
(55).

Aftermath:

Following up
his outstanding rookie year, he solidified his reputation as possibly the best
pure pass rusher in the NFL and leader of Detroit’s “Silver Rush” by
unofficially accumulating 16 sacks in 1979, 18 in ’80, and 10 in 1981, a year
in which he missed five games due to injury (sacks became an official statistic
in 1982). He was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 1979 and ’80 seasons. Following
a strike-shortened 1982 season in which Baker was credited with 8.5 sacks in 9
games – thus giving him an unofficial total of 75.5 in 67 games for his Detroit
career – he was dealt to the Cardinals just prior to the 1983 season, where he
was reunited with defensive line coach Floyd Peters, who had molded the “Silver
Rush”. He had an official career high of 13 sacks in ’83 and a total of 37.5 in
four years with the Cards. Baker moved on to the Browns in 1987 and the Vikings
in ’88, returning to Cleveland for his final two years. Officially, Baker
retired with 65.5 sacks, but adding in the unofficial totals from his first and
most productive years, the total was 132.5.

--

Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by
a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper
Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the
league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).

June 8, 2013

On June 8, 1973 the Philadelphia Eagles took a major step
in revamping their offense by acquiring QB Roman Gabriel from the Los Angeles
Rams. The acquisition of the 32-year-old quarterback came at great cost,
however – they gave up All-Pro WR Harold Jackson, FB Tony Baker, and their
first round draft choices for 1974 and ’75 plus a third round choice for 1975.

Gabriel had been taken by the Rams in the first round of
the 1962 NFL draft out of North Carolina State (second overall). Big,
especially for his time at 6’5” and 220 pounds, and with an accurate throwing
arm, he showed potential during his first four seasons but shared time with
Zeke Bratkowski, Terry Baker, and Bill Munson. The arrival of George Allen as
head coach in 1966 brought improvement to the team in general and Gabriel in
particular, who no longer faced challenges for the starting job. Operating in a
ball control offense that complemented a ferocious defense, Gabriel took few
risks and threw few interceptions. Over the course of the five seasons through
1970, the Rams went 49-17-4 during the regular season, although they lost both
of their postseason games. The big quarterback was selected to the Pro Bowl
three times (1967, ’68, and ’69) and was a consensus NFL MVP selection in 1969.

Things began to unravel after Allen’s departure following
the 1970 season, and Gabriel suffered with tendonitis in his throwing elbow in
’72. His numbers dropped appreciably as he passed for 2027 yards (his lowest
total since 1965) and he tossed more interceptions (15) than touchdowns (12).

Earlier in the offseason, the Rams acquired QB John Hadl
from San Diego and Gabriel sought a trade. Because he had a no-trade, as well
as no-cut, clause in his contract, he filed suit against the Rams, saying that
his no-trade clause had been invalidated when Carroll Rosenbloom became owner
of the Rams through a franchise swap for the Baltimore Colts with Robert Irsay.

Since Gabriel’s approval was necessary for any trade to
occur, he was allowed to negotiate with other teams and agreed to terms with
the Eagles the week before the deal, with the condition that a trade could be
worked out. The suit was withdrawn in order to clear the way for the transaction
with Philadelphia, but Rosenbloom, reacting to negative local press, nearly
called off the trade at the last minute.

With regard to the players the Rams received in the trade,
WR Harold Jackson was returning to the organization he had been with originally.
A 12th round draft pick by LA in 1968, he appeared in just two games
on special teams and was traded to the Eagles. His star rose quickly in
Philadelphia as he led the NFL in pass receiving yards in ’69 with 1116 while
catching 65 passes and scoring nine touchdowns. In four years with Philadelphia
he caught a total of 215 passes for 3493 yards (16.2 avg.) and 21 TDs and was
twice selected to the Pro Bowl, including after a 1972 season in which he led
the league in both pass receiving (62 catches) and yards (1048).

FB Tony Baker played for the Saints before coming to
Philadelphia, gaining selection to the Pro Bowl in 1969 when he led the NFL in
average gain per carry (4.8) while rushing for 642 yards on 134 attempts and
catching 34 passes for 352 more yards and another TD. Dealt to the Eagles
during the ’71 season, he was coming off a year in which he ran the ball 90
times for 322 yards (3.6 avg.). He had nearly been traded to Atlanta during the
’72 season for RB Jim “Cannonball” Butler, but Butler flunked the team
physical. The acquisition of FB Norm Bulaich from the Colts made Baker
expendable.

The Eagles were coming off a 2-11-1 record in 1972 and
were especially dreadful on offense, despite the presence of Jackson. They
ranked at the bottom of the league in points scored (145) and touchdowns (12).
Veteran QB Pete Liske gave way to John Reaves, the team’s first round draft
choice out of Florida, and while Reaves had his moments, he also lost all of
his starts. Head Coach Ed Khayat was fired and successor Mike McCormack sought
to bolster the attack.

Gabriel did indeed make a difference in 1973. Dubbed “The
Messiah” by the media and hopeful fans, his offseason regimen of martial arts
training helped in overcoming his arm problems. 6’8” WR Harold Carmichael took
over Harold Jackson’s place in the starting lineup with admirable results as he
led the NFL in catches (67) and receiving yards (1116). Together with 6’4” rookie
TE Charle Young and 6’3” WR Don Zimmerman, the receiving corps became known as
“The Fire High Gang”. Gabriel led the NFL in pass attempts (460), completions
(270), yards (3219), and TD passes (23) and he was selected to the Pro Bowl as
well as receiving Comeback Player of the Year recognition. The team scored 310
points and 34 touchdowns, and while the record was still under .500 at 5-8-1,
it was a notable improvement.

Gabriel played another four years with the Eagles, but
with far less success. When a strike by the NFL Players Association delayed the
start of training camps in 1974, Gabriel chose to report after three weeks and
prior to a settlement, which damaged his relationship with his teammates. The
club started out at 4-1 but then lost six straight games and Coach McCormack
benched Gabriel in favor of rookie QB Mike Boryla for the final three contests
of the season. His numbers declined to 1867 passing yards with 9 TD passes and
12 interceptions.

Gabriel regained the starting job in 1975 but lost it
again to Boryla during a poor season that proved to be the last for McCormack.
With the arrival of Dick Vermeil as head coach in ’76, he remained in a backup
role for the last two years of his career, first to Boryla and then Ron Jaworski.
Overall with the Eagles, Gabriel completed 661 of 1185 passes (55.8 %) for 7221
yards and 47 touchdowns with 37 interceptions. The team went 12-25-1 during his
starts.

Meanwhile in Los Angeles, the Rams improved to 12-2 and
won the NFC West in 1973 under new Head Coach Chuck Knox. Harold Jackson (pictured below) maintained his All-Pro form, catching fewer passes in a ball control offense
(40) but averaging 21.9 yards per reception as he gained 874 yards and scored
13 TDs, including four in one game in which he accumulated 238 yards on 7
catches against the Cowboys. In five years with the Rams, he was selected to
the Pro Bowl on three occasions. Tony Baker, utilized as a short-yardage
specialist, ran the ball 85 times for 344 yards and 7 TDs. He lasted just one
more year before moving on to San Diego.

The first round draft choices that the Rams obtained in
the Gabriel deal were used to take RB John Cappelletti, the Heisman Trophy
winner out of Penn State, in 1974 and G Dennis Harrah from the Univ. of Miami
in ’75. The third round pick in 1975 went for Auburn TE Dan Nugent. Cappelletti
was a serviceable back in LA for five years before moving on to the Chargers,
rushing for a total of 2246 yards. Harrah became a mainstay on the offensive
line for 13 seasons and was selected to the Pro Bowl six times. Nugent saw no
action with the Rams and, converted to guard, was traded to the Redskins in
1976 for two draft choices.

The Gabriel trade was typical of deals made by the Rams
that allowed them to stockpile high draft picks. They remained contenders
throughout the decade, going to the playoffs in eight straight seasons and
reaching the Super Bowl once. Meanwhile, the Eagles traded away more high draft
choices in 1974 for LB Bill Bergey, who helped solidify the defense. They
remained a mediocre team, breaking even at 7-7 that year and dropping to 4-10
in 1975. The situation would not improve until 1978, Dick Vermeil’s third year
with the franchise. Ultimately, Roman Gabriel would not be a part of the team’s
rise, and despite his fine first year with the club, the trade ultimately
proved to be more of a hindrance to the club’s progress than a benefit.